Meta meets its own 'tobacco' moment in court
Meta faces a new trial in the United States this week over claims that its platforms were designed to be addictive to children, in a case likened to Big Tobacco's reckoning.
Meta is set to face a new trial in the United States, alleging that its platforms were designed to be addictive for children, akin to the tobacco industry's reckoning in the 1990s. Four states - California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey - filed a lawsuit against Meta in 2023, claiming the company deliberately made Facebook and Instagram addictive for kids.
Meta disputes these allegations and is confident that evidence will demonstrate its commitment to supporting young people. The trial, beginning on Wednesday, Aug 12 in Oakland, could result in significant financial penalties and changes to Meta's app design, with damages potentially reaching US$1.4 trillion. Meta's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to testify.
The case could mark a turning point for the company, with experts comparing it to the tobacco industry's downfall in the 1990s, when numerous US states sued major tobacco companies for deceptive practices and targeting minors with advertising.
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